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Getting ready to fly

It's not long until your family start their travel. Make sure you're ready for your trip by choosing your seats, pre-ordering your children's meals and making the most of your free baggage allowance.

Passports, visas and other documentation when travelling with infants and children

Some countries' Immigration departments require additional documentation for all children travelling into, out of or transiting their country. The extra documentation that you may require varies depending on the country, so please make sure you have everything you need before you travel.

The IATA Travel Centre can advise you what documentation is required for each country. Just make sure you use the date of birth of your child to ensure the extra requirements are displayed.

Children travelling alone

Reserve your seat for free

When you travel with an infant (under 2 years) who won't be travelling in a seat of their own, you can reserve a seat for yourself and everyone in your booking (except for group bookings), free of charge, as soon as you've made your booking. If you don't choose a seat in advance, we'll allocate a seat for you three days before departure.

If your infant is less than two years old and you haven't reserved a carrycot position, your infant can sit on your lap using an extension seat belt. The cabin crew will provide this for you and show you how to use the seat belt.

Child seats and carrycots supplied by us (for infants from birth up to two years)

You can reserve a seat in advance for a carrycot/child seat position on the aircraft. Child seats and carrycots are free of charge, but subject to availability once you are on-board the aircraft. You'll see the carrycot/child seat positions on the seat map in Manage My Booking. If you don't choose a seat in advance, we'll allocate a suitable seat for you three days before departure, but this might not be at a carrycot/child seat position.

Please note: Due to operational reasons, we may not have sufficient carry cots or child seats on-board for each reserved carrycot position.

We'll supply a child seat that attaches to the carrycot position. If you have reserved your seat at a carrycot position, you can ask the cabin crew for a child seat.

The child seats supplied by us are:

suitable for older babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)

available on all longhaul flights (except the London City to JFK service)

adjustable to a variety of reclined positions

not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing or turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)

Carrycots

For your baby's comfort, we have specially designed carrycots on board, so that your baby can sleep during the flight. if you have reserved your seat at a carrycot position, you can ask the cabin crew for a carrycot.

The carrycots supplied by us are:

suitable for babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)

can only be used for an infant who is lying down

available on all longhaul flights (except in the First cabin, and on the London City to JFK service)

not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)

Car seats, plus the Amsafe System

Car seats

If you decide to purchase a separate seat for your infant for a child fare, or you're travelling with a child who is less than three years old, you may prefer to use your own forward facing car seat.

The car seat:

can only be used for infants over six months old and children up to three years old.

must be designed to be secured by means of a normal aircraft single lap strap and face the same direction as the passenger seat on which it is positioned.

must have a 5-point restraining harness.

must not exceed the dimensions of the aircraft seat, and should fit into an area of 45cm x 45cm (17.5ins x 17.5ins).

must be strapped in place ensuring that the adult lap strap buckle does not lie directly over any part of the frame or under the structure of the car type seat after tightening.

Please note: Two part car seats, (a seat and separate base) are not suitable for use on aircraft seats.

Amsafe Child Restraint System

If you have your own AmSafe System, you can use this on board.

It can be used for infants from 12 months to children of 4 years of age.

It isn't suitable for use on First Class, Club World or World Traveller Plus seats.

It can't be used in the same row as the emergency exit or the row in front or behind the emergency exit.

Reserving your seats

If you'd like to make sure the whole family has the seats of their choice, you can reserve them in advance.

View our seating page to find out if you can book your seat for free or if there is a charge.

If you decide not to select your seats in advance, we'll allocate your seats five days before departure. If the group can't be seated together, all children in your booking will be seated with an accompanying adult.

Childrens and infants' baggage allowances

Hand baggage

When you travel with us, your child has the same hand baggage allowance as you.

If you are travelling with an infant, you'll be able to bring one bag for the items that your infant may require during the flight. Airport security will vary around the world, so please check what restrictions your airport has in place for carrying baby milk and food in your hand baggage.

Checked baggage

Your child will have the same free checked baggage allowance as you, which will vary depending on which cabin you are travelling in.

If you are travelling with an infant, in addition to your own free checked baggage allowance, you can also bring:

one bag to check in for the infant

one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller)

one car seat

If you have a small, fully collapsible and lightweight pushchair with maximum dimensions of 44cm x 75cm x 105cm/17in x 29.5in x 41in, you'll be able to take this right to the aircraft door at most airports. The airport staff will then put it in the aircraft hold. It will be returned to you on arrival at the aircraft door if possible, or alternatively in the baggage hall on the baggage carousel.